Using an Instant Pot is one of the most efficient and convenient ways to prepare meals for your loved ones. With an Instant Pot, you can choose a wide assortment of meals without sweating over the stove for hours and hours. Using Instant Pot guarantees that you can prepare meals that are heavy, desirable, and fulfilling. However, it is going to take time and practice to master using this versatile appliance.
Within this guide, you’re going to discover unique tips and tricks for getting from your Instant Pot.
Protect Your Belongings
When using an Instant Pot, you have to understand that the appliance is going to generate steam. It uses steam to prepare your food. Although this works exceptionally well, it can create numerous issues. The problem is that the steam may be released straight above the appliance. If you don’t take precautions, there is a risk that the Instant Pot’s steam is going to destroy your belongings. If the cabinet above is not protected, it will be destroyed before you know it. You have to prevent this from happening.
It is best to use the Instant Pot in an open space. Use it on a table where it doesn’t have a cabinet above it. Make sure that there is nothing above the Instant Pot since the steam will destroy the item in question. You can also hold a towel above the jet stream. Doing so will help absorb the initial spurts of water. If the dish uses a lot of water or other liquids, you need to be more careful.
Either way, take steps to protect the object above the Instant Pot or you’ll regret it.
Release Steam Without Getting Burned
Ultimately, Instant Pots are very safe, but there are some risks involved. If you want to use this appliance safely, you need to make sure that you don’t get stung. To achieve this goal, you need to find out how to release the steam without getting your hands burned. You don’t want to change the steam release valve using your hands because you’ll get burned. Instead, you should think outside of the box and find a solution to the problem. Thankfully, there is an easy solution.
All you have to do is grab a wooden spoon. Flip it backward and use the handle to flip the switch. This is a safe and easy way to release the valve without getting hurt. Alternatively, you’ll want to use an oven mitt. With an oven mitt, you can push the valve and protect yourself. Don’t use your hand though because you will get burned. If you’re looking for unique ways to get more from your Instant Pot, be sure to check out the articles at Corrie Cooks.
Using It For Sterilizing
Parents should understand the importance of sterilizing their baby’s bottles. If you don’t, there is a risk that your child is going to drink contaminated milk and that could create issues. You need to take steps to sterilize your baby’s bottles. You can accomplish this by purchasing a baby bottle sterilizer. The only downside is that these appliances are very expensive and you’ll have no use for them once your child no longer uses a baby bottle. If you own an Instant Pot, you should kill two birds with one stone. You can use the Instant Pot to prepare your favorite meals.
Plus, you can use it to sterilize bottles and pacifiers. Using an Instant Pot is one of the safest ways to sterilize your child’s bottles so you can guarantee that they’ll be okay. It only takes a few minutes to sterilize your baby’s bottles using an Instant Pot.
Pressure Cook – Always Add ½ Cup Water
It is crucial to add ½ cup of water when pressurizing vegetables and meats. To ensure adequate moisture when pressure cooking rice and pasta, it is recommended to another ¼ or ½ cup, equaling ¾ or 1 full cup. Pasta, grains, and rice absorb a lot of water when cooking because they are “hygroscopic” materials. The cooking method does not matter, hygroscopic materials absorb water when cooking on the stovetop and in the oven. If you do not add adequate water, the noodles and grains of rice will come out dry and uncooked.
Pressure cooking with an Instant Pot requires water, regardless of the recipe. Water is essential to pressure cooking because, without it, there would be no steam, which is a necessity for pressure. With this said, too much water is not good either. In fact, too much water will result in fewer flavors and over-cooking.
To ensure the maximum results, follow each recipe to a tee. As a rule of thumb, add more water when cooking hygroscopic ingredients like pasta, grains, and rice. Hygroscopic is defined as having a tendency to absorb moisture from the environment.
Storage – Leave Top Open
Many people are under the impression that it is perfectly okay to store their Instant Pot with the lid sealed. While it will not damage the Instant Pot, it is not recommended. When it comes to storage, the instant pot is slightly different than most cookware, because it has a rubber gasket that creates a perfect seal between the lid and rim or lip. The seal prevents air circulation, resulting in a foul odor building up inside the interior compartment.
Before storing, unseal the lid to avoid foul odor buildup. A small gap between the lip and rim will allow adequate air to circulate throughout the interior compartment.
Summary
Ultimately, using an Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to prepare delicious meals. However, you need to take steps to learn how to properly use this appliance. You’ll also want to discover unique ways to use your Instant Pot. For instance, you can use it to sterilize baby bottles within minutes. Furthermore, the appliance can be used to prepare vanilla extract and cough syrup. Take steps to find out how to get more from your Instant Pot. Never use it under a cabinet since the steam could destroy it.
Also, find out how to protect yourself when using the appliance. Don’t release the steam with your bare hands. Use the tips below and you’ll be good to go.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.